Topcliffe - Topcliffe
Flight / Schedule
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
Aircraft
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 WhitleyRegistration
T4226
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFDate
December 16, 1940 at 03:50 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Bombing
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Crash Location
Scarborough North Yorkshire
Region
Europe • United Kingdom
Coordinates
54.2820°, -0.4012°
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On December 16, 1940 at 03:50 AM, Topcliffe - Topcliffe experienced a crash involving Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Scarborough North Yorkshire.
The flight was categorized as bombing and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.
5 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. The aircraft left RAF Topcliffe at 1704LT on December 15 on a bombing mission over Berlin. While returning to his base, the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft due to fuel exhaustion. The bomber came to rest into the sea at 0350LT some 32 km off Scarborough. The rescue teams did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the crew. Crew (77th Squadron): Sgt Philip Rowe, pilot, Sgt Reginald Douglas, pilot, Sgt Philip James Anstey, observer, Sgt Peter O'Neill Darbishire, wireless operator, Sgt Kenneth Henry Wake, air gunner.
Aircraft reference details include registration T4226.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 54.2820°, -0.4012°.
Fatalities
Total
5
Crew
5
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The aircraft left RAF Topcliffe at 1704LT on December 15 on a bombing mission over Berlin. While returning to his base, the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft due to fuel exhaustion. The bomber came to rest into the sea at 0350LT some 32 km off Scarborough. The rescue teams did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the crew. Crew (77th Squadron): Sgt Philip Rowe, pilot, Sgt Reginald Douglas, pilot, Sgt Philip James Anstey, observer, Sgt Peter O'Neill Darbishire, wireless operator, Sgt Kenneth Henry Wake, air gunner.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
5
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 5
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFFlight Type
Bombing
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Region / Country
Europe • United Kingdom
Aircraft Details
Aircraft
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 WhitleyRegistration
T4226
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